Best Cat Foods On The Market

Cats are carnivores, not omnivores like dogs and people. That's the most important thing to keep in mind when considering what to feed yours.

"When it comes to nutrition, they are very inflexible, and owners must realize that," says Louise Murray, DVM, vice president of the ASPCA's Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York.

Frequent Questions About Cat Nutrition

Should they eat as they would in the wild?

Should they avoid carbs?

​Should they eat dry food for the health of their teeth?

Should they eat wet food for better hydration?

Some of these opinions are myths, some are based in science, and some are in between. Even scientists don’t agree whether some plant-based protein is acceptable for cats or whether plant-based ingredients are harmful to them.

One thing is clear: cat food should be chosen for its ingredients and not for weasel marketing words such as premium, super-premium, natural, complete, balanced, which are not based on any standard.

What Are The Good And Bad Ingredients?

According to Anna Shoveller Assistant Professor, Dept of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, “There is no evidence that grains or other carbohydrate-containing ingredients are good or bad for cats. What is most important is that the cat's protein requirement is met first.”

This means that healthy cat foods feature meat as their first listed ingredients. Plant-based foods are okay for dogs but are not good for cats.

Cats have a few other special requirements:

They don’t drink enough water so they should have both canned food and dry

They need digestible (high quality) ingredients in order to absorb the nutrients – it’s not the % of protein that matters so much as what it is

​Small amounts of some carbs may help them digest their food and promote kidney health—the debate rages on—but a diet high in low-quality carbs is definitely hard on their kidneys

Low quality ingredients in general are hard on a cat’s health

Rendered fat – cheap way to add the required fat

Additives – color, flavor, thickening agents

Sugar

Thickening agents – carrageenan, xanthan gum

Ocean fish can be an allergen for cats, may contain toxins, and may also be fished by slaves

Things To Look For

Whole Proteins

Chicken

Turkey

​Beef

​Duck

​Liver

Whole eggs​

​Salmon

​Basa

Pollock

​Whitefish

​Quail

​Snapper

Boar

​Pheasant

Herring

Whole Grains

Natural Preservatives

Quinoa

Brown rice

Barley

Bulgur

Farro

Kasha

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

Things To Avoid

Unspecified Meats And Proteins

Unhealthy Grains And Fillers

Meat

Meat meal

​Meat by-products

Rendered fat

Corn

Wheat

​Soy

Sugar

Fruit pomace

Additives & Chemical Preservatives

Thickeners

Vitamin K3 (menadione)

BHA

​BHT

​Sodium nitrite

Sodium nitrate

Ethoxyquin

Carrageenan

Xanthan gum

Carrageenan gun

Color

Blue 2, Red 40, Yellow 5, etc

They came up with the following two lists of most-used ingredients in the dry and wet foods they analyzed:

Top Ten Ingredients In Foods Deemed “Best” (In Order)

Top Ten Ingredients In Popular Grocery Store Brands (In Order)

Whole herring

Boneless walleye

Herring meal

Whole salmon

Boneless turkey

Beef liver

​Boneless pork

​Boneless beef

Boneless chicken

Boneless lake whitefish

Chicken

Liver

​Meat by-products

​Artificial & natural flavors

​Wheat gluten

​Cornstarch-modified

Water sufficient for processing

​Turkey

Soy flour

Chicken liver

What About The Different Formulations?

Scientists and veterinarians are still researching and arguing about the perfect feeding regimen for house cats.

Regardless of the type of food your cat prefers, quality ingredients and digestibility are the most essential considerations.

Dry

Pros

Cons​

Economical

Convenient

More processed than wet

Doesn’t add hydration

The teeth cleaning thing is a myth

Wet (Canned)

Pros

Cons​

Added hydration

Less processed than dry

Better balance of protein, fat, carbs

Expensive

Cats may ask for treats more often

Raw

Pros

Cons​

No preservatives or chemicals

Nutrient-rich

May have harmful bacteria (for you and the cat)

Expensive

A lot of work

Dehydrated

Pros

Cons​

No preservatives or chemicals

Nutrient-rich but without the bacteria potential of raw food

Expensive

Need to ensure cat drinks enough water to avoid kidney problems

Homemade

Pros

Cons​

Confidence in the ingredients

Very time-consuming

Raw meats may contain pathogens

You must know exactly what you are doing in terms of nutrient balance

What Do I Do Now?

If your cat already has engrained food preferences, there may be nothing you can do.

If you want to try:

Read the label – what are you feeding your cat now – research the ingredients

Chat with your vet – find out if your cat has special dietary needs

Digestibility – brands don’t publish this on their labels so reach out to your brand and ask about it

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